A clay image of the Hindu Elephant God Ganesh, included in Maya Chakravorty's altar at her home in South Croydon since 1989. Every morning Maya prays at her altar, first lighting a lamp and incense. All her "pujas" or prayer rituals begin by chanting the "mantra" or prayer invocation for Ganesh. He is the Hindu God of protection and prudence. Maya's grandmother taught her that she should never pray to the Gods and Goddesses to get something. The most she ever asks of them is that they protect her family and keep them well.